Bengaluru, March 9 (NationPress) The government of Karnataka, under the Congress party, declared on Monday that it will create residential areas and distribute plots to retired military personnel throughout the state within this year. This announcement was made by Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda during a session in the Legislative Assembly, while addressing a query put forth by BJP MLA B.P. Harish.

Minister Gowda commented: “This year, we will consider the pending applications of retired soldiers across the state. The government is committed to developing locations and allotting sites to these veterans this year.”

He indicated that there was previously a lack of accurate records of applications from soldiers, but now the information has been organized through digitization.

“We are formulating a comprehensive program. The application procedure has been digitized. The government has pledged to allocate sites to soldiers, and land is necessary for the execution of this initiative,” he noted.

He further mentioned that in the subsequent phase, the lands to be acquired have already been pinpointed. “We will also assess eligibility during the site allocation process,” he stated.

Earlier, BJP MLA B. P. Harish raised concerns in the Assembly about the approval of land or plots for retired soldiers. He pointed out that when he inquired about the number of applications received for land allocation in Davanagere district, the government reported receiving 328 applications, yet none had been processed.

“The applications from former soldiers have remained unaddressed for the past three years. They have neither been accepted nor denied. It is disheartening, especially considering these individuals protect our nation. Officials in the Revenue Department have not been responsive to the soldiers’ requests,” Harish stated.

He emphasized that the government is supposed to provide four to five acres of land to retired soldiers but has not fulfilled this obligation.

“They are requesting plots, yet the authorities are offering land in challenging terrains and forested areas. Do these soldiers deserve such treatment? When a soldier makes the ultimate sacrifice, the community comes together to honor them. Their posthumous needs should also be treated with the utmost respect,” he added.

Harish asserted that this issue extends beyond Davanagere district, impacting the entire state.

“If land should be allocated to retired, injured, or martyred soldiers, the government ought to purchase appropriate land and assign it to them. Instead, officials are marking unsuitable land in hilly terrains, which is very distressing,” he remarked.

He further insisted that soldiers should receive plots in district and taluk centers rather than being disrespected by being allocated land in remote regions.

“They feel compelled to visit government offices and even come to my residence seeking assistance. It is heartbreaking to witness this,” he mentioned.

Harish alleged that some of the designated lands are situated in hilly areas where wildlife, such as leopards and bears, are present.

“The identified land is in hilly regions, and soldiers are being assigned plots in areas frequented by leopards and bears. Is this not a grave error?” he questioned.

In response to these concerns, Minister Gowda assured that the government would investigate the suitability of the identified land.

“We will definitely assess if the designated land is appropriate. We have to allocate land from the available government properties. It might not always be feasible to provide plots in urban areas,” he clarified.

BJP MLA S. R. Vishwanath also highlighted the matter, mentioning that 14 acres of land had been earmarked for soldiers at Gantakanahalli near Bengaluru.

“Currently, they are protesting in front of the taluk office. Some are in uniform, and others are physically challenged. The land is available but has not yet been allocated. I urge the government to expedite the allotments; otherwise, it will tarnish the government’s reputation,” he urged.